At
the root of the dysfunction of the political system in Australia is the brevity
of the political cycle.
Nominally
3 years in this country, an election may be, and frequently is, called at any
politically expedient time by a current prime minister.
Hence, for the governing party all policy is populist, directed toward re-election rather than the common good.
Hence, for the governing party all policy is populist, directed toward re-election rather than the common good.
Transformative,
nation-building policy, which may involve increased cost to, and hence be
unpopular with electors, is avoided.
Compassionate social policy, which may attract the ire of the establishment and its servile media organisations, is eschewed.
Reducing taxes, especially for the rich, is encouraged, even at the cost of reducing services for the disadvantaged.
Action on anthropomorphic climate change is dictated by the coal industry lobbyists.
Policies are based on vote gathering, not principle and ideology.
Compassionate social policy, which may attract the ire of the establishment and its servile media organisations, is eschewed.
Reducing taxes, especially for the rich, is encouraged, even at the cost of reducing services for the disadvantaged.
Action on anthropomorphic climate change is dictated by the coal industry lobbyists.
Policies are based on vote gathering, not principle and ideology.
Appeals to self-interest and greed are far
more effective in gaining re-election than creating equality of opportunity.
Decisions are based on placating the powerful and influential.
Opposition is neutralised by plagiarizing, misrepresenting or demonising their policies.
Decisions are based on placating the powerful and influential.
Opposition is neutralised by plagiarizing, misrepresenting or demonising their policies.
Hence
the rich get off scot-free in a tough budget ("scot", a Scandinavian
word meaning "tax", is particularly appropriate in this
context. Also, equally appositely, our newly-minted Prime Minister's given name).
Private health and private education continue to be government-subsidised at the expense of public health and education.
Pensioners, invalids and the unemployed get shafted.
Private health and private education continue to be government-subsidised at the expense of public health and education.
Pensioners, invalids and the unemployed get shafted.
Meanwhile our egregiously Pentecostal happy-clapping current Prime Minister and the rest of the unrepresentative swill in Canberra continue to
reveal in startling clarity the sort of people we allow to control our lives.
Is there not one MP in the whole squalid sty that passes for our government who is there for the common good and not their own?
*****
Is there not one MP in the whole squalid sty that passes for our government who is there for the common good and not their own?
*****
I'm
not sure about democracy.
Majority rule is a bit of a worry when the majority are total fuckwits.
Majority rule is a bit of a worry when the majority are total fuckwits.
I
have come to believe very firmly that the only way to bring about real, lasting
change in a Western democracy is to elect a leader with courage and
convictions, who would be prepared to go down fighting for principles of
equality of opportunity in health, welfare, education, housing and employment,
who couldn't give a shit about his/her political career or pension, the establishment,
public opinion, the populist press or vested interests, or losing the next
election. (Hello?? Anthony?? Is that you?? Please
?)
Otherwise,
I am rather keen on the idea of a benevolent dictator.
Somebody like Wen Jiabao.
He seemed like a nice guy.
Somebody like Wen Jiabao.
He seemed like a nice guy.
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